{ KI }

I don't know how they did it with the pie. Massive as a small table. I worry it'll go to waste, though Michael's guests are close to finishing it.

Theo, Angeline, Portia, and the newest member of the family sitting in front of us are too busy eating food at their table, unbothered with the said pie. Terence and Alice— They said they'd check the supplies in the back kitchen. When the kitchen staff were in the front area and she pulled him through the kitchen door by grabbing his tie, something told me they weren't checking at all.

It's been an hour. Aht is counting. Yes, we are betting on them.

"Don't you want more, Ki?" Bertha's inhaling crème brulée on her plate and plopping on a seat right next to me.

Her wedding ring glints under the sunlight by the window near us. Chirpy as always, but oftentimes, she has this delicate smile whenever Mike is around. It has been months and she remains like this.

She rents her cruise ship to her friends. The Hartshorne couple will return to Britain soon, unsure if we will stay in contact since my fire and I have distanced ourselves. Things are changing once more... I don't mind that we both have to find another transport but these changes are no less hurtful.

...A what if. What if we had been the closest friends?

Mmh. Shaking my head, I munch on the last piece of fruitcake.

"I'm full, dear." I set my plate to the side, patting my tummy. "Can Mike give away some of his recipes?"

"Tried." Aht leans against a wall on my left out of nowhere, surprising Bert. He likes to scare people by being stealthy for years now. Long gone's the elephant spy.

"Why can't he?"

"Since I cook at Theo's–"

"I'm not paranoid," Michael interrupts as he approaches us.

"So the man says."

Michael's restaurant has become so renowned in L.A. city, that even people from other states come here to taste his food. Adding the fine service of Bert's famous ship, it should be no surprise that celebrities and moguls would like to meet the newlyweds. I'm happy for them.

Only... I hope Mikey can discern which people are good for him and which are not. Half of the time, he misplaced trust and distrust altogether. A reason why he was the last person among us to get out of the town.

Bert laughs. "Honey, he won't expose your secret recipes."

"Doesn't mean I don't trust him." Mike crosses his arms. "I don't trust his colleagues. Probably sneaking around—"

"I am offended!" Angeline pipes up while rocking the baby in her arms. "I screened their applications."

Aht snorts when Michael lets out a sheepish chuckle.

Theo chimes in, "Believe me, Aht has a sleight of hand—"

"Hey!" Aht is affronted, comical by exaggeration.

"You'd find random sweets and chocolates in your bags! I doubt anyone can get away with it when it comes to him."

"You don't want candies anymore?"

"Who said I didn't?"

"YOU HAVE CANDIES!?" Portia turns hyper in her seat.

Angeline smoothly passes the baby to Theo and distracts their girl with legendary tales. They picked up a solution: storytelling. He's a novice compared to her but catching up.

"Mr. Bailey!" A voice comes from behind Theo. "You didn't introduce me to these fine... people."

A man in his fifties. Wearing a suit and not out of place. A pair of leathers, maybe worth five times my salary. A watch that could be mistaken as a bar of gold. A look, when his eyes land on Aht and me, incites the bottom of my shoe.

Michael chuckles and introduces the man. "This is Ezra Syndercombe. You see, this man is one of the people who are in charge of releasing recent films."

"They are your friends?" Ezra asks.

"The closest!"

Unsettling when our heads almost brush the ceiling and yet, this Ezra inspects us as if we are lowly bacteria under a microscope.

"They are..." Michael glances at us, asking wordlessly if we're fine with telling our legal names. With my look, he gets our answer. "Mr. Aht Alioth and Mrs. Ki Alioth. "

"Unique names for a unique couple... Along with unique heights."

Mike frowns a moment and a courteous smile returns. "Uh yes. They are special—"

"No wedding bands?"

"I don't see this is any of your concern," Aht grumbles.

"How long have you three known each other?" The old slime ignores the jab.

Bertha joins in. "He has known them since... Gosh, around eight years?"

"Yes! My friends and I used to look up to them for guidance. They were our 'second parents' in fact." Mike grins.

Ezra scoffs. "Why did you look up to them?"

"Pardon?"

"They're younger than you. They should've looked up to you instead."

"Oh no no! Actually, they are—" Mike frowns at us, pondering a bit... "Older. I assume. Perhaps around our age."

"How miraculously young they look compared to the rest of you."

"Cosmetics can do miraculous things," I reply curtly.

"How old are you by the way?"

"None of your concern. Again."

Angeline adds, "A little rude to ask these questions."

"I don't see anything rude about them." Ezra laughs.

Aht rolls his eyes and snaps, "We were born out of war, Mr. Syndrome—"

"Syndercombe."

"Whatever. Not the right time to pick up birth certificates along the way."

"Oh? Which war?"

"WHO WANTS PAVLOVA!?" Theo shoots up from the table.

Aht raises his hand and Theo quickly drags us both far away from that irritant.

Minutes turn to hours when Michael tries to diffuse the lingering tension in the air. His guests don't care about what happened and go home with satisfied smiles, but a handful of influential people huddle at a table across the room. Unsubtle glances and whispers are thrown our way as Aht finishes off the last strawberry pavlova. Theo attempts to distract us by telling stories.

Mike and Bert walk towards us when—

"I'm interested to introduce your friends to mine," Eejit, I mean, Ezra butts in, facing the couple. "They are taken with these..."

"Unusual?" Aht hisses.

"Exotic pair."

That's fucking worse. "Not the word we'd be flattered by," I say out loud through my teeth.

"They must attend auditions where my friends have set up, and they'll be famous!"

"Really?" Why is Mike fine with this? Even Bertha side-eyes him.

"Guaranteed. The audience will admire them—"

Aht laughs in a bitter tone. "Or watch us like caged animals."

"Mr. Alioth, we won't achieve far with this kind of mentality."

"I assure you, my wife and I never intend to."

Eejit faces us instead and flashes a boastful smirk. "Have a vision, Mr. Alioth. It might save you from... shortcomings as a husband. Your wife can finally throw on plenty of good dresses."

Irritating chill coils around my neck and shoulders, making my muscles tense. Withhold myself from acting something foolish. Like beating up this son of a bitch in broad daylight. One more word about Aht...

"His vision is just fine. And it doesn't involve"—my head leans closer to Ezra's, sensing my face contorts into old intimidation—"cheap films."

He steps back in fear and blinks when my face returns to normal in a split second. Yanking Mike's arm to the front door, Ezra mutters fast but loud enough for us to hear. "I must be off, Mr. Bailey. Your friends should accept the offer since it's impossible to get this chance again."

"Of-of course!"

"I might throw in a good word or two about this little place. I won't take no for an answer."

Mr. Syndrome and his friends march out of the restaurant, leaving us without a word. Aht grabs Mike's shoulders and hauls him to a small corner, away from other staff.

"What in the rubbish fuck was that?"

"You'll be famous." Mike adds, "And the money, my friends!"

I pinch my nose bridge, tamping down the irritation. "You can't be serious, Michael. We're fine where we are."

"Surely it can't be fulfilling."

"It is and we'll stick by it," Aht emphasizes every word.

"You are stuck working at one place, can't have children and—"

"Get to the point."

"All I'm saying is, please, go make something out of life," Michael implores, grasping Aht's and my hands together. "You two are too special to remain unknown. The suns of our lives. The world should know how wonderful you both are."

Aht's guarded frame relaxes. "Let us stay this way. Not a loss, because why do you think they want to cast us when most films had starred white actors?"

"They might progress—"

"Bullshit. Not with these Hollywoods. If we aren't able to stand up for ourselves, we'd be in freak shows by now. Doesn't matter on TV screens or somewhere else. They already boxed black people in ridiculous roles—damn it, we are in post-war. Have you seen how they showed Asian actors as?"

Mike has his hand wiping his face. "There's nothing wrong with those roles."

He can't be this sheltered?? "They are not good people... Didn't you see how he treated us?" Even when I can't read people perfectly anymore, Ezra was being blatant. I don't know why Mike is being blind.

"Or maybe they slowly give other races a spotlight. You should be thankful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"Other races managed to create films without their help, even though not as popular. So don't give us that 'opportunity' talk." My hand flails around. "Besides the point. We want to stay hidden."

"Look, Ki—"

Not those words again. "Mikey, think about this. You're comfortable, but not us. We don't need attention from strangers."

Aht and I leave right after, not looking at anyone. Not even when Theo calls out to us. I don't care about our bet anymore.

I hate this particular change the most.

____________________

{ AHT }

It's been hours since the Guthrie family went to sleep in their room next to ours. The guest house we're in is comfy enough to rest. I can't complain about the owner, who glared at us yesterday and only smiled at Theo and his family. It just can be... tiring.

Ki and I are watching I Love Lucy on the couch through a TV screen, with her head resting on my lap and my fingers weaving through her hair. She's wearing my loose shirt while I'm in my underwear, not minding about decency since it's summer.

...Did Desi Arnaz struggle before landing the big role? Or does the lighter side of his Cuban skin make it acceptable? Or does he have similar issues like us behind the curtain? I will never know. However, good for him to have his shine properly at least.

When the show ends, I see...

"My fire, what are you doing?" Ki follows me to the kitchen, confused when I fill up a bowl and a glass from the tap. 

I bring them to our balcony, where a scruffy black cat has been wandering about. It jumps when I open the window and soon rubs its head against my palm, drinking the bowl. Then, I wash my hands with a glass of water.

Bumping her butt to mine, Ki places her chin on my shoulder. I hug her side and let us sit on a chair outside. With her on my lap, I breathe her in along with the humid midnight. I don't enjoy the laid-out view before us, where its supposed beauty flourishes in artificial lights. Where it changed Michael.

I grip her waist. "What are we going to do about Mike?"

"He's different now, my Aht. I mean, he is still kind."

"But he was comfortable, ignorant, and stuck in his own bubble. Kindness doesn't help anyone if he keeps being dismissive."

"What if he doesn't push us anymore by tomorrow morning?"

"No difference. What if another media mogul swoops in? More persuasive? We're at risk. You saw how Mike hasn't learnt anything for the past two years. Remember when—"

"I know... When those people conned him." She exhales puffs of air on my forehead. "What do you have in mind?"

I stay silent for a minute or two, lost in thoughts. Painful thoughts. A disheartening solution. And Ki knows. Her hands secure around my nape, prompting my sudden tears.

"He also noticed how young we remained, Ki."

She wraps her arms around me, burying her face in my hair... My fingers lift to pick my lips but I refrain. I can see the tip of my nose going pink. The cat winds its dark body around my leg and cries softly before running off.

As if to wish us luck.

____________________

"We go first. Haven't shopped for souvenirs yet," Theodore speaks up, attempting to alleviate the awkwardness on the table. "Ki, Aht, we'll rendezvous at the dock."

Yesterday, we told him and Angeline what happened. She was angry initially, albeit saddened over the course of dinner. She informed us that Mike was like this when he was a child. His parents were to be blamed and presumably, he had outgrown their... teachings when he first met us.

I guess it's hard to change for some people after all.

My Ki and I look like a pair of pandas from crying last night. She wants to give one more chance before we decide anything.

Breakfast in his restaurant again and no customers yet. Almost quiet here. Terence and Alice seem upset in their rigid demeanour. The Guthrie family takes their leave with goodbyes and Theodore mouths good luck to us. He doesn't know what kind of decision we'd be taking, but he has good faith that it will turn out okay.

"I..." Michael voices out, reluctant. "I can't reject his request."

Bertha, Alice, and Terence join in, siding with us by reproaching him all at once. Apparently, the Hartshorne couple got the news from Bert.

A harsh exhale from me. "Yeah yeah, all the promotions and other nonsense. You can survive without his money."

"His words could ruin my—"

"He can go suck his words! People come here because they love your food, not because of hotshots throwing in half-cocked approvals."

"Mikey, I'm begging you." Ki clutches his hands. "Please don't do this."

Among the ruckus, I focus on her, who focuses on him. He fidgets in his seat. Her eyes water and her despairing frown slowly smooths out...

She turns cold.

I shake my head, getting up and hugging Alice and Terence tightly. "I hope you and Alice will reach Britain safe and sound." They're shocked, though return the gesture.

"Y-you too. I wish you both a safe journey," he utters.

She consoles, "Mike will come to his senses, I'm positive."

Bertha... I give her a bear hug. She's blameless in all of this. "I'm sorry, Aht."

After Ki hugs the rest, she stares Mike down once more. Not even a hint of guilt in his eyes. Conflicted, yes. Not guilt.

When we leave the building and step onto a street, Bertha comes out and shouts, "Please visit soon! He will come around."

"Bert," Mike's voice rings by the door. "Let them sulk. They'll see it soon enough."

I lead Ki farther down the street as our tears fall hard, refusing to look at the restaurant for one last time. Wiping my tears roughly, I quicken my pace. Her lips quiver... and she's soothing over her chest.

Damn humans and their damning egos.

____________________

"Should I put ginger in Sunday roast or not?"

"Just because our boss loves ginger, doesn't mean you have to include it," Uncle Silas chuckles.

"I want to spice things up with this menu." I shrug. "Unless you have other ideas?"

"Nope. You do you. Remember to—"

"Let all of you taste it first. I got it." I huff out a laugh. "My wife's idea by the way."

"She is enabling him."

I hear my name between the kitchen noises. Looking around, I find Theo by the door who behaves strangely. Standing static in the middle of the dynamic crowd. He usually chats with other staff whenever he comes here.

He beckons me to follow him outside. I wash my hands, wipe on my clean apron with haste, and put away my cap.

...Why is he not saying anything? Not a word when we walk through the lobby. Angeline looks confused when we pass her by and his inscrutable face doesn't budge. We reach the gardens outside.

My Ki... I love to see her gardening. She is always at peace among flowers, no matter which weather she's in. Obvious despite her not telling me. I finally got her poppy seeds yesterday through Uncle Silas—I don't want to know how he had them—and she was overjoyed after a long time. She wasted no time planting them in our own private garden.

In her overalls, wide hat, and thick gloves and boots, she stops chatting with her co-worker when she sees us. Theo beckons her and walks away. Ki tilts her head. My shoulders rise to my ears.

We both follow him to his office and he shuts the door. Then he... grabs a piece of paper.

Oh no.

"What"—he shakes the paper up to our faces, flushing in anger—"is this?"

Guthrie's Garden Of Gamut Lost Their Employees: A married couple, who worked in the hotel for four years, has been missing in the Daintree Rainforest since their weekend getaway last week. The police search found no...

I bite my lip. Ki taps her thighs, looking everywhere but him.

"How did you find this?"

"Really, Aht!?" Theo flay— flails the page more and slams it on his desk. "To answer your question, I met and asked Mr Shcherbakov. Got a copy. This wasn't included in our official newsletter in any manner. "

"...He was supposed to keep it a secret."

"Why should it? You two have been moping for a month ever since we left Mike's restaurant. Took a day off three days ago and cried your eyes out while at it. I investigated—" He's tearing up... "I was worried! You acted like someone has died and now this."

The silence after is deafening. When Ki begins to sob, my fingers link with hers and my thumb strokes her knuckle. This boy has grown up a lot, hasn't he? Sometimes I forget.

"We asked him to forge it and put it together with a copy of this newsletter." I sigh and tell him slowly, "Sent it to Michael and Bertha."

His glower morphs into shock, and he becomes despondent with wide, watery eyes. He gets it. My vision blurs.

"What about Alice and Terence?"

"We stopped contacting them after our last visit. They're aware that we won't be friends in the long run," Ki speaks up.

"Why won't you be...?" He shakes his head. "Never mind. This isn't the way."

"What better way we can do?"

"Certainly not this! Do you think they will mourn for a short while and move on?"

"They will," I snap.

"They are your friends."

"Friends don't disregard their friends' wishes over and over." My teeth grit. Muhl. Taq. Fomu. I had enough. "He doesn't care anymore and Bertha cannot say anything about it. If they ask anything, lie."

Before he can say anything, his telephone rings. He leans against his desk, takes in a long breath, and answers it. "Hello— Angel. What is it?" Standing up straight and his eyes bulge out, he says his thanks and opens the door.

"Is it true, Theo??" Bertha's voice.

I immediately back myself and Ki up against a wall beside the door, hiding.

"Bert, I..."

"What is this?" Angeline sounds upset and there's a noise of rustling paper.

"Did they—?" Michael sobs with disgusting sniffles. It has come to my knowledge now that he's an ugly crier. "The way I treated them was horrible."

Ugh. I whisper to Ki, "It's not fair for Theo."

She exhales and pulls me along to the door— Aish! It becomes a riot. Theo hauls them all into his office and locks the door.

"I THOUGHT YOU BOTH ARE DEAD!"

"How could you!?"

"Please calm down!"

"Can anybody tell me what's going on?"

"QUIET!" Ki shushes them. "Angeline, we had sent fake news because we wanted to cut off contact. Michael, because you were being a stupid, greedy mule and ready to sell us off, we had to do this way. Bertha... Please, forgive us."

They stare at us and haven't said a word.

Until Mike. "I'm really sorry... Yes, I was a jackass. Please let me make amends."

I share a glance with Ki and her face softens underneath hesitance. Gentle-hearted she is... She doesn't want to regret again. Not after what happened with Fomu and Taq. Michael better not mess up next time.

Theo's eyes are downcast and he voices out, "Not the only reason, was it?" I watch him. Study him. He has this same pensiveness when he first guessed I'm not a full human. Oh bother, don't be too perceptive. "You don't want to form a friendship with Terence and Alice. Why?"

"We-we... It's complicated and... uhm," Ki stammers.

"You didn't want to be close with Bert but you can't help it," Theo says. The person with the said name is surprised and faces him. "Because of age."

"Shut it," I warn.

"Age?" Angeline is more confused.

"Because Mike noticed it, you two intended to leave him and Bertha forever? What if Portia notices it when she grows up? Angeline as well?" His brow creases and his lips curl down. "Will you use this same plan in the future?"

I shift my view to Ki, who is at a loss for words as I do. We did talk about it before and haven't decided on anything.

His breathing is heavier and he glances at Angeline. "They were nature spirits."

"THEODORE!" I grab his collar.

"They don't age and—!"

"I don't want to punch you, kid!"

"They were banished into becoming humans!"

"How could you do this!?" Ki shoves his shoulder.

Bertha explodes with a frustrated groan. "Has he gone crazy?" Now wait a minute. Ki and I whirl around in Bert's way.

"Never call this moron crazy," I scold her while joggling him. "Understand?" I shove Theodore away and he backs up to a window, averting his look in shame. At least he has remorse.

"Why did he say something like that?" Mike's puzzled.

"Because it's true," Ki mutters.

Angeline's disconcerted. "Well, you and Aht are tall, big, and seem young, but those don't mean— Fine, also possess peculiar outlooks and behavior..." Her words trail off.

They're staring at us again. One by one, their bewilderment changes into clarity. Scathing fury builds up in me. So much for staying hidden. Ki hides behind me and I know she is afraid of possible scrutiny. She shouldn't have, although when Mike changed and Theo did this bullshit, I understand her doubt about our friends.

I glare at Theo, who is crying. "You are damn selfish."

"DON'T EVER GO MISSING ON ME!" The tears from his pleading eyes have no indication of stopping... "I can't— I am selfish and I want you two to stay, even when I'm slowly dying right in front of your eyes."

The pressure behind my eyes threatens to burst. "Another peep to anyone and we will disappear for good."

At this point, I'll be dehydrated if I keep crying. I need to race around the hotel. Ki squeezes my arm and nods at me. Shaking my head and kissing her temple, I then walk towards the door, open it, and exit.

"You are not our parent." I slam the door shut.

{ KI }

"Where did he go?" Angeline asks me carefully.

I huff, wearing my gloves and trying to ignore the stares. They don't deserve his tears. "He's stress-running. Cooking is his happy time; no negative connotations anymore."

"Oh... How do you handle stress?"

"Stress-cooking. Same sentiment. Work wonders when we switch." I march out the door when Theodore opens his mouth and I cut him off by raising my palm. "Guthrie, don't make me bear today."

Pacing to the gardens, I recall his reason. Aht and I will never be parents, though I can imagine how parents feel if their kids are missing. But my love was right; Theo isn't our parent.

Put my hat on, a trowel within my grasp, and continue the abandoned work despite lunchtime. My fingers dig deep into the fresh soil, finding suitable fits for daisies. Next, tulips. Later, dahlias.

...What a mess. How could Theo be irrational when he knew what Mike wanted before? How can I trust them again? How can Aht trust?? He lost it because of his distrustful nature and he truly wants to trust people more. Then they threw it all away because of—

Agh. It will be fine, Ki. They'll make numerous amends to win his trust. All the best to them.

"Do you wish to kill these soils?"

Mild-mannered Angeline, who stands near my right side, attempts to joke. I proceed to dig. Dig, dig, dig deeper and I imagine myself as my meadow. Frightening when I can't remember the feeling much.

God, how can Aht handle this? "I am merely finding places to plant."

"By stabbing them, Ki?"

"Rather than stabbing your husband, right?" I exclaim.

Her eyes widen. My word, I was being patient a lot, wasn't I? They see me angry in small doses and haven't caught how my temper is the same as Aht's. Only, I tend to hesitate, overthink it, feel it's not worth my time, or all three.

"Speaking of him, he explained everything to you?"

Angeline takes a while to answer. "Yes. To Michael and Bertha too. I thought you're okay with—"

"As much as I want to strangle your dearest husband, he was labeled crazy for too long during childhood. Aht and I are not that cruel to disprove his statement."

She crouches beside me and observes me. Another pair of shoes steps into the view from the corner of my eye, near the garden bed. Theo's.

I stab the soil more.

"Have you..." She hesitates. "Do you regret it?"

"Of?"

"Chosen to live in our world?"

A disbelieving laughter bubbles up within me and spills through my lips. "Aht asked me that same thoughtless question years ago."

She winces and clears her throat. "Sorry, I—"

"I know a part of him blamed himself for 'tempting me' out of my meadow, but he soon remembered that I have agency. I have my own will and desires, and it took some time for him to get it to his head." I face her. "Why do you think I ever regret it?"

"Because of age and friendships. Will you both just overcome them? Isn't it heartbreaking to live like this?"

"Aht and I had no idea it would be this way. We thought we'd age like you... But these are the costs I'm willing to bear and I'm extremely glad to be out of the meadow. To think Aht has to deal with eventual losses and mourn all alone for centuries if I hadn't?" My chest aches as I choke out, "I can't ever stomach this scenario. I have terrors whenever this thought pops up."

"Ki..." Her eyes well up. I shouldn't have unleashed anger on her. She has been an angel.

"I know he'd feel the same if we switched places. He takes care of me. I take care of him. We mourned together before, we can do it again. With him... Living in this world and the memories we have gained make it worthwhile."

Theodore hugs me from the left side while she hugs my right. Both of my shoulders are wet.

He weeps. "I'm so sorry, Ki. I'm sorry..."

"You and Mike have to gain my Aht's trust. I don't want him to deal with losses while his friends are still alive."

"Okay," he answers quietly.

Feeling a pair of eyes on my back, I look over my shoulder. At the open entrance, Aht stands there, sweaty and exhausted. In spite of today's event, he gazes upon me as if I'm the moon and the stars.

He is a balm to my spirit.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be taking a break"—I clap my dirty gloves—"and feed my beloved by stress-cooking."